Paul Thompson
Sheffield Wednesday

Anthony Gardner believes that the Owls can handle the pressure of the climax to their Championship survival battle.

He admits that confidence possibly took a knock in the immediate aftermath of the defeat at Peterborough.

But the Owls captain insists that the team can bounce back and cope “fine” with the pressure of this week.

“We have to pick ourselves up and focus on the next game,” he said, looking to the final game, against Middlesbrough.

“We’ll get ourselves ready and prepare to go out there on Saturday. It’s a game we have to win. There’s added pressure. But that’s the nature of the game. Every time you step on the pitch and there’s 20-odd thousand there, there’s pressure. When you’re on the pitch, you get on with it.”

Wednesday will head into the game wanting a win to make sure there is no chance of them having to rely on other results, though they could stay up with a point or even a defeat, depending on what happens elsewhere.

They are level on points with Millwall and a point ahead of Peterborough and Barnsley, and cannot be caught by bottom two Wolves and Bristol City.

Millwall play Crystal Palace at home tomorrow and Derby County away on Saturday; the weekend sees Peterborough away to Palace, and Barnsley away to Huddersfield.

Gardner had no complaints about the free-kick decision against him that led to Peterborough’s winner.